Portnoy : "Mike Mangini is an amazing drummer" (and on re-joining DT)

[darkshade]

DT14 - "Never Say Never"

[SnakeEyes]

DT 14 - "Never Say Never.... Enough"

[blackngold29]

MP interview from two weeks ago: I never say never and my intensions with DT was never to leave the band or split up with the band, I merely felt that we could’ve used a little time off because we had been doing it non-stop for 25 years. You know, the cards played out as they did and they wanted to carry on without a break and I needed to do other things with other people because I just needed a refreshed enthusiasm and inspiration in my life and career.

But I never say never, if we’re a couple years down the road if they wanted to do something together again I would in a heartbeat, you know. That’s my baby, that’s my lifeblood. I built that band for 25 years and I just really need a breather from the guys and from the machine itself. If it’s in the cards to reunite down the road, I never say never.

[Addy]

That’s my baby, that’s my lifeblood. I built that band for 25 years and I just really need a breather from the guys and from the machine itself. If it’s in the cards to reunite down the road, I never say never.

What I hate about him is that he talks like he's thinking of DT as his and only his. Like throughout those 25 years he did all by himself. Good to hear though that he admits that Mangini's a great drummer. I also think that's one the first signs of Portnoy regretting his last-years decisions. But you know what ? It's sad to say but I never want MP back in DT. They're a better band without him. On every level.

[wolven74]

I like how he says "They've moved on, and I've moved on..." Finally an end to the speculation and the bickering. He's happy, DT's happy, MM is ecstatic. The new material (what we've heard of it) is amazing. All is right with the world. Lot's of moving on. Can we join that bandwagon?

[tgstk2]

a few years down the road it's DT with the 2 mike's....the kit is big enough for 2 drummers....

[tri.ad]

a few years down the road it's DT with the 2 mike's....

Nope.

[?]

Good to hear that he's finally saying something positive about DT! However, I don't think a reunion is that probable...

[antigoon]

a few years down the road it's DT with the 2 mike's....

Nope.

They could be the Slipknot of prog metal!

[Perpetual Change]

a few years down the road it's DT with the 2 mike's....the kit is big enough for 2 drummers....

That's seriously be pretty dumb.

I could see a big thing though, where like MP, DS, CD, and others all get up on stage. But it was MP who always organized that stuff to begin with so I don't think he'd be into it.

[bosk1]

Honestly, I don't really get the reactions in this thread.  This is exactly what he should have said--nothing more; nothing less.  Have his comments in the past really been SO bad that when he makes the type of generic, innocuous comment he should make under the circumstances, people are compelled to actually cheer?  That's actually kind of bizarre.

[Perpetual Change]

Have his comments in the past really been SO bad that when he makes the type of generic, innocuous comment he should make under the circumstances, people are compelled to actually cheer?

Do you really want people to answer that?

 

[Chino]

That’s my baby, that’s my lifeblood. I built that band for 25 years and I just really need a breather from the guys and from the machine itself. If it’s in the cards to reunite down the road, I never say never.

What I hate about him is that he talks like he's thinking of DT as his and only his. Like throughout those 25 years he did all by himself. Good to hear though that he admits that Mangini's a great drummer. I also think that's one the first signs of Portnoy regretting his last-years decisions. But you know what ? It's sad to say but I never want MP back in DT. They're a better band without him. On every level.

Wasn't it JP and JM who found him initially?

[Metabog]

Honestly, I don't really get the reactions in this thread.  This is exactly what he should have said--nothing more; nothing less.  Have his comments in the past really been SO bad that when he makes the type of generic, innocuous comment he should make under the circumstances, people are compelled to actually cheer?  That's actually kind of bizarre.

Yup.

Let me elaborate a bit. What I mean is that his comments have been almost consistently negative or "whiney" so far, and this is a fairly strange change of opinion.

[IdoSC]

*clap*

[bosk1]

I guess I just don't see the need to comment at all.  I don't think he gets any special credit for saying what he should have said all along, but I also don't see the need to beat it into the ground either.

[IdoSC]

I guess I just don't see the need to comment at all.  I don't think he gets any special credit for saying what he should have said all along, but I also don't see the need to beat it into the ground either.

It's the first sign of our once-beloved spokesman keeping his sanity when...speaking.

Note: I'm joking of course, no offense at MP.

[yorost]

Honestly, I don't really get the reactions in this thread.  This is exactly what he should have said--nothing more; nothing less.  Have his comments in the past really been SO bad that when he makes the type of generic, innocuous comment he should make under the circumstances, people are compelled to actually cheer?  That's actually kind of bizarre.

This, very much so.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I guess I just don't see the need to comment at all.  I don't think he gets any special credit for saying what he should have said all along, but I also don't see the need to beat it into the ground either.

that's probably because portnoy being reasonable means we're a step closer to peace between the two sides. that's a great thing.

[Perpetual Change]

I guess I just don't see the need to comment at all.  I don't think he gets any special credit for saying what he should have said all along, but I also don't see the need to beat it into the ground either.

I don't really consider a page of forumerrs basically saying "Good to see Mike being positive for once" to be that.

[bosk1]

Okay.

[Perpetual Change]

 

[Daso]

That's the least he could say. I mean, Mangini appreciates Portnoy a lot and absolutely admires him, and as Petrucci himself said on The Spirit Carries On documentary, they had played with both Mangini and Portnoy on stage before, surely because of Portnoy as he was the one who enjoyed doing that type of stuff and was the one with those ideas. Mangini and Portnoy even went to Berklee together, iirc. After having Mangini say that he loves Portnoy's drumming and that they're friends, I think that's what Portnoy should have said.

In any case, I wonder if Mangini has talked with Portnoy ever since he became the new drummer...

[Bertielee]

One honest question and no bashing is meant at all. What if they play again together in a few years : will MP still be able to play the tricky DT tracks? I mean, he's admitted he's not practised for about 10 years now and as he is no longer with the band, he will not play DT tracks on the same regular basis (if ever by the way). So, yeah, will he still be able to play some DT as perfectly as he did before?

B.Lee

[tofee35]

I guess to add to this:

Awhile back some 12 year old at mp.com posted a "who's better? MP or MM" thread. MP chimed in saying MM. That thread was, of course, deleted.

[Super Dude]

I guess to add to this:

Awhile back some 12 year old at mp.com posted a "who's better? MP or MM" thread. MP chimed in saying MM. That thread was, of course, deleted.

I have to be honest, whatever your feelings about MP may be (this isn't directed at you, just a general statement), it seems like a rather foolish thing to do to begin with, creating a thread comparing the forum moderator with someone else.

[bosk1]

I guess to add to this:

Awhile back some 12 year old at mp.com posted a "who's better? MP or MM" thread. MP chimed in saying MM. That thread was, of course, deleted.

I have to be honest, whatever your feelings about MP may be (this isn't directed at you, just a general statement), it seems like a rather foolish thing to do to begin with, creating a thread comparing the forum moderator with someone else.

Oh, I dunno.  Seems like an okay idea to me.  https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=27371.new#new

[yorost]

Clever, but let's see if we can get Itchy to beat you.

[SnakeEyes]

I think it's ridiculous to say that Portnoy wasn't acting like a baby at first.  He did nothing but blame the guys in DT for HIS decisions and HIS behavior as well as act like a victim, like they threw him out or something.  Anyone who didn't see him doing this, I'm sorry to say, is delusional. 

BUT, I think his comment here is very nice and I think we should get beyond all that.  That's a normal reaction for most people.  I'm just saying..... it happened.  Let's not pretend like it didn't, though. 

[chknptpie]

A relatively nice statement, awesome.